Thumping at Sister

[Cinn&Nut]

Hello, I have two 4 month old bunny sisters (Cinnamon and Nutmeg) and recently I have been waking up at 5:00 AM to thumping and a strange noise (Like a grunt) made by Nutmeg. I have noticed that whenever Cinnamon gets too close to Nutmeg, she runs away and usually thumps. I have no clue whats going on because they’re sisters, and they should get along right? I don’t know if one bunny is claiming dominance or they are just fighting for some reason. They used to be really close and they would both groom each other, but it’s all going downhill for some reason. To make they’re cage, I cleaned out my closet and put a dog fence in front of it, so it’s a pretty big cage, Yesterday I separated they’re cage in half with a gate so that they can’t fight anymore but they still can be with each other. I just don’t know if I should be worried, or if this is a totally normal thing for bunnies this age. By the way they have not yet been spayed. Thank you in advance!

[Wick & Fable]

Your detail of the situation is very helpful.

This is most likely hormonal. Rabbits do not acknowledge family units, so brothers, sisters, parents, etc.. do not matter. Cinnamon and Nutmeg would have gotten along if they were not sisters up to this point because they are -baby rabbits-. Rabbits who do not have hormones yet do not have mating and territorial motivations, so they get along. Once hormones hit, those come out.

You did great in separating them, and now that signs are showing, they must stay separated until both are spayed, given time to recovery (a month), and then you can begin the bonding process. There’s information on bonding on this website (BUNNY INFO section).

It’s a very common misconception (sisters get along), so you’re not alone in thinking that.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Cinn&Nut]

Thank you for the helpful information!

[Cinn&Nut]

Also when I let them out to free roam my room, do they have to be separated then? Because I always let them out at the same time, and they usually do really well staying away from each other, although sometimes Cinnamon still chases Nutmeg, but today I saw Cinnamon cleaning Nutmeg, and Nutmeg wasn’t getting scared. They’re confusing me!

[Wick & Fable]

They may groom each other some times but they may fight others. What people usually do is split the free roam time. So one gets a turn and then switch it.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

With rabbits it’s usually the girls being the most territorial, so two sisters raging with puberty hormones can get into really bad fights It was very good that you gave them their own space, that’ll improve the chance that they’ll bond again after their spay.

Bunny puberties are a lot more extreme than most people expect. It’s one of the main reasons why ill-informed people get rid of their bunnies, they never expected this radical change. One month you’ll have a cute baby bunny on your hands, and a couple of weeks later they’ve changed into a hormonal maniac. Sometimes you can expect a total lapse in ltter box habits, humping, agression/territory fights and a constant battle for dominance. Youch…

Glad to hear that your girls are being spayed when they’re ready Their behaviour will improve within weeks, and you can try re-bonding them after the hormones have died down. You’ll also notice that they’ll be less stressed and more comfortable towards you. Those raging hormones can be a frustration for the rabbits themselves as well. Spaying isn’t only good for behaviour, but also for general female health. Intact females have a big chance of developing uterine cancer by the time they’re 4, and spaying prevents that.

Our male bunny Breintje was unneutered until he was 2, he had always lived in my BF’s dorm room. Breintje went through puberty of course, but didn’t show unwanted behaviours such as agression or spraying urine. I got along so well with my new BF’s bunny that he decided that he could live at my place. After the 2nd date I already had a hutch ^_^
Within weeks of arriving here Breintje went totally nuts: he started to spray urine and everything in sight. He also became difficult to be around: an odd mix between claiming me as his territory and being agressive. He clearly didn’t know what to do with himself either, there was much thumping and destructive behaviour. We decided to neuter Breintje and he improved quickly. Now he’s a happy snuggly bun who loves napping next to me on the couch.

[Cinn&Nut]

Great! thanks for the information! What age do you think I should get them fixed, because I know I don’t want to do it before they are 6 months, but do you think I should maybe wait a little after 6 months or not? Also once I do get them fixed, should I totally separate them in like different rooms during recovery, or do you think what I have now is fine (Dividing the cage in half).

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

The right age for spaying will depend on the breed and the stage of puberty which they’re in. Dwarf breeds can have their puberty at 3-4 months and large breeds vary from 6-9 months. I’d ask your vet when it’s right time to spay them, they can see if a rabbit has developed properly yet.

When a rabbit is in recovery it’s important for them to be in a stress-free area. If things are going well now and continue to go well up to the spay, I wouldn’t change their habitat. Rabbits are creatures of habit and a change in living conditions can stress out a rabbit. Being a prey species, they want to know their territory so well that they can blindly run to safety when danger arises. Rabbits don’t see that well and they map their living area using their whiskers. If a piece of furniture changes position you can see them mapping everything out again and testing their new escape routes.

It’s a pretty mean trick, but my BF had to use tricks on his previous rabbit. He still lived with his parents at the time and she was only allowed in the living room when he supervised her. When it was hutch time she had to be picked up and carried there. She was a little wild and a real sprinter, and she turned not being caught into a very funny bunny game. Sometimes she led the family on a merry chase, and if she was being too wild they moved a piece of furniture a little bit. That distracted and confused her, so she could finally be brought to her hutch. Luckily Breintje is a lot less clever and more food-orientated. I’ve taught him to jump into his hutch on command in exchange for a treat.

[Cinn&Nut]

 Little Breintje! I will make sure to ask my vet when to get them fixed, they are Holland Lop rabbits by the way. So right now I can’t clip their nails because they won’t let me hold them, they’re too squirmy! So I bring them to a local pet store, but since they are fighting at the moment, would I have to take them in two different carriers so that they won’t fight? Or would they just get scared during the car ride, and huddle up next to each other?

[BuddyBun]

My Lop bunny is super squirmy too! If you have a second carrier, you could put them in there, or if you have a significant other or someone to hold one, while the other is in the cage/carrier, that would probably work too. Or, you could put them in together, start driving, and if they start to fight, pull over and separate them. Unless, of course, they get scared and huggle. That would be the best Hope this helps!

-BuddyBun

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